Warp knitting machine



Aug. 31, 1948. LAMBACH 2,448,035

WARP KNITTING MACHINE- Filed Jan. 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet .l

INVENTOR Irizz Lamlaack ATTORNEY I20 I24 I54 31, 1 8- N F. LAMBACH 2,448,035

v WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 88 92 loo W y A 1 iizzamfiach ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WARFKNITTING"MACHINE Fritz Lambach, Tenafly, N. J.

' Application January 24, 1947, Serial No. 723,952

1'8 Claims.

This invention relates to warp knitting ma chines, and more particularly to a warp beam feeder drive for feeding warp yarns from the warp beam or beams to the knitting implements of awarp knitting machine.

An'object of the present invention is to equip a warp. knitting machine with a warp beam feeder drive, which responds fast to a change in the .tension of the warp yarns, so that immediately upon a pulling action of the knitting implements on the warp yarns the Warp beam is :driven'by the warpbeam feeder drive for feeding warp yarns to the knitting implements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a warp beam feeder drive for a warp knitting machine, which includes efiicient brakingmeans assuring a-fast stoppage of the warp beam upon the termination of the pulling action of the knitting implements on the warp yarns.

Still another object of the present invention is to equip .a warp knitting machine with a warp beam feeder drive, which may be readily nadjusted to the conditionsuprevailing in the warp knitting machineduring an operation of the latter. l

A further object of the present inventon is to provide a warp beam feeder drive for a warp knitting machine, wherein the principal elements run in an oil bath.

. Still another object ofthe present i-nyention is to improve upon the construction .of warp knit ting machines as now ordinarily made.

It is understood that the term warp beam used in the specification and claims indicates a single warp beam or an assembly of warp beams composed of a plurality of sectional warp beams.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of Various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, an embodiment of the same being described in the specification and being illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. l. is a fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of a. warp knitting machine equipped with warp beam feeder drives accordingto the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational View of theupper portion oi a warptknitting machine illustrating a warp beam feeder drive according to the invention, a portion of theframe of the warp knitting machine being shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a sectional :view of the warp beam feederdrive shown in Fig. 2, in an enlarged scale,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the warp beam feeder drive similar tothat shown in Fig. a wherein, however, thecoupling means of the clutch are in a. different position,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the warp beam feeder drive in an enlarged scale,

Fig 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken alongline 6-6 of Fig. 3, and

.Fig. 7 is airagmentary sectional view taken on line 1-1 of .Fig- 5.

,=Referring now to Figs. 1-3, [0 generallyindicates the frame of a warp knitting machine, [2 indicates a top warp beam, d4 indicates a lower warp beam, and I6 generally indicates knitting implements of the machine. The knitting implements are actuatedin a manner known per so by mechanisms driven by a' main cam shaft I8 journalledgin suitable bearingsof :the frame 10 and rotated by a main drive (not shown). The warp yarns fed by the top warp *beam l2 to the needles 22 are guided by a stationary rod 24. andtravel around a tensionirig rod 26 held by arms 28 keyed to. a shaft 30 joum-alled in thenframe it of the warpknitting machine. An adjustable spring 32 acting on an extension -34 of the, arm 28 carrying the tensioning rodg26+tends to urge saidgarmpn in counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1.) whereby the warp yarns-26 are tensioned .in .a manner known per se. Likewise, the warp yarns 36-;fed bythelower warpbeam M of. the needles 22 are guided by the stationary rod 38 andtravel arounda tensioning rod. carried by arms :42 keyed to a shaft 44 'journalled in the frame 10 of :the machine. Said warp yarns 36 are tensioned by an adjustable spring; 4.6 acting .on ,an extension 48 of the arm in a manner known per se. l

The top warp beam is coupled through a suit-; able mechanism generally indicated by 50 (see Figs. 2 and 3) with a shaft 52 journalled in ball bearings of the frame I0. Saidmechanism 50 including forexample gear segments 64 in mesh with a pinion 56 keyed to one end of the shaft 52 may be of the type shown in the U. 5. Patent 2,376,364 issued on 'May 22, 11945, to Fritz Lambach. A use 58 of aplanetary gear drive generally indicated by 60 (see Figs. 3 and 6).is rigidly secured to the other-end of said rotatable shaft 52. Said disc 58 carries diametrically opposite studs 62. On each of said. studs 62 .a planet gear 64 is rotatably arranged. i Each planet gear comprises a pinion 66 of small diameterand a pinion 68 of large diameter rigidly connected with each other. i y

The pinions 66 are in mesh with a ring gear 10 rigidly secured to the frame 10 by means of screws 12 passing through bores of lugs 1.3 of said ring gear 10 (see Figs. 1., 2 and 5). As best shown inFig. -3,.a gasket-I4 and a cover plate 16 having a bore 78 for the passage of the shaft 52 are interposed between the ring gear 10 and the frame III for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The large pinions .68 of the planet gears 64 are in mesh with the sun gear forming a part of an element 82 rotatably arranged through the me dium of a ball bearing II4 on a rod 84 and by means of a needle bearing II5 in a bore 8 6 of a member 88 rigidly secured to the stationary ring gear 10 by screws 90. A gasket 92 is interposed between said member 88 and the ring gear 10.

Above mentioned rotatable element 82 is proably, but axially immovably arranged in suitable bearings carried by the bodies I00 and I28. According to Figs. 5 and 7, a spiral gear I10 secured to the shaft 88 is in mesh with a gear I12 arranged on. a reduced portion I13 "of the element I42. Said gear I12 rests against a shoulder I14 of the element I42 and is positively connected vided with a disc 94 at the end opposite the sun;

one of the coupling means of a frictional clutch generally indicated by 98. The annular braking ring 98 is secured to a stationary member I00 by means of screws 602 which, in turn, is secured to the stationary member 88 by screws I04. A gasket !05 is interposed between the members 88 and I88. The rod 84 passing through a bore I08 of the element 82 is provided at its right-hand end (as viewed in Fig. '3) with a head H0 abutting against a collar H2 in engagement with the inner race of the ball bearing H4. The outer l'ace'of said ball bearing II4 inserted into a recess of the element 82 abuts against a shoulder H5 of said recess. The left-hand end (as viewed in Fig. 3)' of the rod 84 passes through a center bore H8 of a bar I20. Said bar I is provided with diametrically opposite apertures 122 shirtably engaged with bolts I24 screwed into threaded bores I26 of a body I28 secured to the member I00 by means of screws I30 (see Figs. 5 and 7). A gasket I3'I is interposed between the body I28 and the member I08. As best shown in Fig. 3, a locking nut I32 is arranged on each of the bolts I24. Furthermore, a coiled spring I34 surrounding each-of said bolts I24 is interposed between said locking nut I32 and a ring 536 abutting against said bar I20. The tension of said coiled spring I34 arranged outside the body I28 may be adjusted'during the operation of the machine by means of an adjusting nut I38 screwed on the threaded end of the rod 84 andresting against the surface of the bar I20. Said adjusting nut I38 is heldin its position by a lock nut I38. As will be readily understood, the coiled springs I34 tend to urge the bar I20 in left-hand direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) whereby the disc 94 ofthe element82 connected with said bar I20 through the rod 84 and adjusting nut I38 is urged against the stationary braking ring 98 for an arresting of the warp beam I2 positively connected with said element 82 through the medium of the mechanism- 50 and the planetary gear drive 80.

I As mentioned above, the disc 94 of the element 82 forms also a coupling member of a frictional clutch generally indicated by 98. The other coupling member of said clutch 98 is formed by a disc I40 arranged on the right-hand end of a member I 42'r-otatabl'y arranged in a bore I44 of the member I08 through the medium of a needle bearing I45. Said coupling member I40 carrying a clutch lining I46 is permanently rotated during the operation of the machine by the following mechanismi i I As best shown in Fig. 1, a gear I48 keyed to the end of the main cam shaft I 8 of the machine is in mesh with a gear I50 keyed to the lower end of a shaft I52 carrying at its upper end a member I54 of a universal joint I 56. The other member I58 of said universal joint I56 is keyed to the lower end ofa connecting shaft I 80, the upper end of which carries one member I52 of a second universal joint I84. As best shown in Fig. .5, the other member I68 of said universal joint I84 is. secured to the lower end of a shaft I68.rotat' 4 of the stationary body I28.

with said element by means of a key I16. Therefore, during the operation of the machine, i. e. during a rotation of the main shaft IS, the coupling member I40 forming a part of the element I42 is permanently rotated through the medium of the mechanism including the universal joints I56 and I54 and the gearing I10, I12.

Above mentioned coupling discs I40 and 94 may be engaged with each other and disengaged from each other the following controlling mechanism:

As best shown in Fig. 1, a split arm I18 having a plurality of holes I88 is rigidly connected'by means of a clamping screw I82 with the shaft 88 carrying the arms 28 holding the tensioning rod 28. One end of a connecting rod R84 is selectively pivotally connected with one of the series of holes I of the arm I18. The other end of. said connecting rod I84 is pivotally connected with a split arm I88 rigidly secured to a cylindrical element l88 by means of a clamping screw I80 (see Figs. 1-3, 5 and 7). Said cylindrical element I88 is interposed between a set collar 92 and a thrust-ball-bearing 594 arranged on the reduced portion I13 of the element I42. The thrust-ball-bearing I94 abuts against the gear I12. The cylindrical element I88 has a threaded portion H6 in engagement with a threaded bore Therefore, if in response to a pulling action of the knitting imple ments I8 (Fig. 1) on the warp yarns 20, the tensioning rod 25 is'swung in clockwise direction against the action of the spring 32, the arm I18 likewise swung in clockwise direction causes a corresponding. rocking movement of the arm I86, which results in a slight rotation of the cylindrical element! 88; owing to the engagement of the threads E86 of the cylindrical element I88 with the threadedbore of the body I28, such a slight rotation of theelement I88 by means of the arm E88 causes a. shifting of the member I42 through the medium-of the thrust-ball-bearing I84 and the gear I12 in right-hand direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) whereby the coupling member I40 is brought into engagement with the coupling member 84. Upon said engagement of the coupling members I40 and 94 with each other and during a further swinging movement of the arm I88 in clockwise direction, the continued displacement of the element I 42 towards the right causes a displacement of the disc. 94 towards the right away from the annular braking lining 86 against the action of the coiled springs I34 into the position shown in Fig- 4, whereby the braking means is released. The rotating coupling disc I40 eng'aged with the thus released coupling disc 94 causes an immediate rotation of the warp beam I2 through the planetary gear drive 80 and the mechanism 50 for feeding warp yarns to the knitting implements. Said feeding of warp yarn to the knitting implements by the thus driven warp beam, in turn, results after a short interval into a lessening of the tension in the yarns, so that the spring 32 (Fig. 1) may cause a movement of the tensioning rod 26 in counter-clockwise direction. Said movement of the tensioning rod 28 in counter-clockwise direction causes a similar movement of the arms I18 and I86 in counterclockwise direction, whereby the coupling. disc H; is retracted from the position shown :in Eig. 4 into the position shown in Fig.9 3 l by ,means. of :the element tfldhavingyits, threaded portion: [HG-engaged with the. threaded portion of. the body I28. Duringsaid-retracting. movement of the'coupling member 1411-; the; couplingmember 9.4;may follow said retracting movement towards the. left by means: or the action of: the. springs: 134, .until the disc: :94 abutsiagainstfthebraking ring-96, whereby thez warpibeam l2 isar-rested. "During the operation of the warp knitting; machine, above :described-releasing of the beam brake 961by an engagement of the: clutch members 44.8 and add, driving; oil-the warpbeam: by theengaged clutch members M0 and 94, and application of the-beam brakeand disengagement of v the clutch members Mfli194' repeats .itselfaat shortxintervalsin response to the intermittent pulling actionsnof; the'knitting implements on the'warp yarns. anda subsequent lessening ofsuchpulling actions.

Above described construction permitsz a. fast response ofthe warp beam. feederdrive to a change-in the: tension of theyarnsofor. causing an immediate-release of the beam brake and an immediate. rotation of' the Warprbeamby the feeder drive. ;Furthermore, the .rather large braking.- surfaceof: the. braking ring -95 assures an, efficient':brakingameans-wfor a quick stoppage of .the wa-rpbeam upon the termination .of apulling-action of the knitting implements on the warp yarns.

Furthermore, wsaid braking. action may be readily 5 adjusted. to; the" conditions prevailing in themachine by'an adjustment of the tension-cf the coiledzisprings I34. arrangedoutside the casing in'closing:.the'brakingmeans 'by means of the readily'accessible adjustingc-nut 438.

- As;best,shown'in Figs; 3 aud t, 'thexgears' H6 and-I32 biz-the warp beam. feeder; drive are arranged in a compartment. 198, the. coupling discs HDQBG'Df the clutch98arearranged in at; compartment. 206 and the elements of :the .planetary gear, drive- 60 are arranged a compartment 282;; each'of said-compartments I88, 20!):and 2B2 issealedby above mentioned gaskets and has a sump capablenofreceiving oil. The gears NB, I12; the-coupling members I40, and the elements .of the planetary ear drive ,60 arexarranged for. dip ing into-oilinsaid sumps; :If desired; saidqsumps may communicate with each other by lines ,orrbores :(not shown in the drawings) As best shown-fin Fig. 1,.awwarp yarn tension controlled warp beam feeder drive ofthe type described'above in connection with the top warp beam .12 is alsorassociated with theilower warp beam 14: The xmechanism including the .two universal-joints-M l and 265 for rotating-one of thetwoiriction' clutch members duringthe operation: of the machine is coupled with the main shaft of: thexmachine by means of a gear'268' meshing with: the" gear l48 keyed to the end of the main shaft. 18. The controlling mechanism for engaging and disengaging the clutch members'andfor-releasing and applying the braking means in: timed relationship thereto is coupledwith the tensioning rod'Ml bymeans of the connecting rod' 210* pivotally connected with thearm? 2| 2. positively connected with the shaft 1 44 which, in"turn,.. is positively connected with the arms'dz.carryingwsaid tensioning rod-A0. As the construction ofythe warp beam feeder drive"as-' sociatediwith the lower warp beam l 4 corresponds entirely: tov "the construction ;0f': :the warp beam feeder drive5assoeiated with the. topswarplbeam l 2 as describedtabove; a detailed description- .of then warpzbeam feederidrive associatedwith theilowei', warp'beami4 is unnecessary-sand it-issuflici'ent to-state that the permanently rotating clutch member of 1 the warp: beam feeder drive drives the lower warp .beam l4 .each time upon a= pulling action of the knitting implements/won.the warp yarns r36 .causingan increaseinthe :gtension ofsaid. warp: yarns, and. that the" warp beam is automatically arrested by the brakingmeans each; time upon a sufilc'ientilessening of the. pulling action-of the knitting implements "ion the warp yarns 36,

It is understood, that the driving means-for rotating the clutchmember M0 during'the operation of themachine may be replaced byany other suitable driving mechanism, which may :be coupled with the main-drive of the machine or which may include an independent drivesuch as an electric motor.

Furthermore, the controlling mechanism' for shifting the clutch member M0 in'response to a change in the tension of the yarnsmaybe replaced by any othersuitable controlling mechanismuresponsive to a change in the-tension'in the yarns.

I have described a preferredembodiment'ofmy invention but it is understood that-numerous changesandomissions may be made." without -departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. Ina warp knitting machine, the combinationof: a rotatable warp beamyknitting implements arrangedfor. engagement with. yarns fed by said warp beam, said-knitting implements being capable of causing intermittent pulling actions on said yarns, a feederxdriva a clutch interposed between saidfeederhdrive and" saidwarp beam,.said clutch having cooperatingfirst and. second-rotatable coupling rneans capable of being engaged witl'ieach other-and of being-dis" engaged from each other, said 'first coupling means being positively connected'with said feeder drive so as to be rotated-by the latterduring'the operation of the machine, means arranged for a positive connectionoi' said second 'couplingmeans with said warp beam, braking means, saidbrakingeneans being capable of applyinga braking action on said warp beam, at controlling mechanism associated with saidclutch for engaging said coupling means-with-eachother in response to such a pulling action and for disengaging said coupling'means from each otherin response to a lesseningof suchapulling action, one of said coupling means beinga-rranged for cooperation with said braking means so as torelease same in response to an engagement of said coupling means with 'each other, and means for an automatic application of said braking means upon adisengagement of said coupling means from each other.

.2. .In a warpknittingmachine as claimed :in claim 1, said *feeder drive being coupled with and driven by the main'drive of the warpknitting machine. a

.3 In a warp knitting machine, the combina-' tion of a rotatable warp beam, knittingimple ments arranged for engagement with yarns' fed' by said warprbeam, said-knitting implements-being capable of causingintermittent pulling actions on said-yarns, a feederdrive, a clutch interposed between said feeder drive andsaid-warp beam, said clutch having cooperating firstandsecondrotatable coupling means capable of being' engagedwith 'eachother and of beingdisengaged from each other, said first'couplingmeans being positively connected with saidfeeder drive so as to be rotated by the latter during the operation of the machine, means arranged for a positive connection of said second coupling means with said warp beam, braking means associated with said second coupling means, said braking means being capable of applying a braking action on said second coupling means, a controlling mechanism associated with said clutch for engaging said coupling means with each other in response to such a pulling action and for disengaging said coupling means from each other in response to a lessening of such a pulling action, one of said coupling means being arranged for cooperation with said braking means so as to release same in response to an engagement of said coupling means with each other, and means for an automatic application of said braking means upon a disengagement of said coupling means from each other.

4. In a warp knitting machine, the combination of: a rotatable warp beam, knitting implements arranged for engagement with yarns fed by saidwarp beam, said knitting implements being capable of causing intermittent pulling actions on said yarns, a feeder drive, a clutch interposed between said feeder drive and said warp beam, said clutch having cooperating first and second rotatable coupling means capable of being engaged with each other and of being disengaged from each other, said first coupling means being positively connected with said feeder drive so as to be rotated by the latter during the operation of-the machine, means arranged for a positive connection of said second coupling means with said warp beam, braking means associated with said second coupling means, said braking means being capable of applying a braking action on said second coupling means, a controlling mechanism associated with said clutch for engaging said coupling means with'each other in response to such a pulling action and for disengaging said coupling means from each other in response to a lessening of such a pulling action, said first coupling means being arranged for cooperation with said braking means so as to release same in response to an engagement of said coupling means with each other, and means for an automatic application of said braking means upon a disengagement of said coupling means from each other.

5. In a warpknitting machine, the combination of: a rotatable warp beam, knitting implements arranged for engagement with yarns fed by said warp beam, said knitting implements being capable ;of causing intermittent pulling actions on said yarns, a feeder drive, a clutch interposed between said feeder drive and said warp beam, said clutch having cooperating first and second rotatable coupling means, said first coupling means being shiftable towards and away from said second coupling means and being positively connected with said feeder drive so as to be rotated by the latter during the operation of the machine, means arranged for a positive connection of said second coupling means with said warp beam, stationary braking means, said second coupling means being shiftable towards and away from said braking means, resilient means acting on said second coupling means for urging same against said braking means so as to cause a braking action by the latter on said second coupling means, and a controlling mechanism, said controlling mechanism being associated with said first coupling means for shifting same in response to such a pulling'action in one direction towards said second coupling means andupon contact with the latter together with the latter in the same direction against the action of said resilient means whereby said coupling means are engaged with each other and said braking means is released, and said controlling mechanism being further associated with said first coupling means for shifting same in response to a lessening of such a pulling action in the opposite direction away from said second coupling means whereby said couplingmeans are disengaged from each other and said braking means is applied to said second coupling means by the action of said resilient means. I

6. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, said coupling means being of the frictional disc-type.

7. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, said coupling means being of the frictional disc-type, the disc of said first coupling means being'smaller in diameter than the disc of said second coupling means, and said braking r ing, said resilient meansbeing arranged outside said casing, adjusting means arranged outside said casing and associated with said resilient means for adjusting same, and an actuating mechanism connecting said resilient means with said second coupling means.

10, In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, a casing, said coupling means of said clutch being rotatably arranged within said casing, said casing having a sump capable of receiving oil, and said coupling means being arranged for dipping into 011 in said sump.

11. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, said feeder drive including a pair of relatively shiftable gears meshing with each other, one of said gearsbeing coupled with said first shiftable coupling means, the other gear being coupled with and driven-by the main drive of the machine.

12. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, said feeder drive includinga pair-of relatively shiftable gears meshing with each other, one of said gears being coupled with said first shiftable coupling means, the other gear being coupled with and driven by the main drive of the machine, and a casing, said gears of the feeder drive and said coupling means of the clutch being rotatably arranged within said casmg.

13. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, said feeder drive including a pair of relatively shiftable gears meshing with each other, one of said gears being coupled with said first shiftable coupling means, the other gear being coupled with and driven by the main drive of the machine, and a casing, said gears of the feeder drive and said coupling of the clutch being rotatably arranged within said casing, said casing having at least one sumpcapable of receiving oil, and said gears and said coupling means being arranged for dipping into 011. in such a sump.

14. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 1, a planetary gear drive arranged between said second coupling means and said warp beam said second coupling means and said warp beam and said planetary gear drive being arranged for dipping into oil in such a sump.

for a positive connection of said second coupling means and said warp beam, and a casing, said planetary gear drive being arranged within said casing.

16. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, a planetary gear drive arranged between said second coupling means and said warp beam for a positive connection of said second coupling means and said warp beam, and a casing, said casing having an oil sump, and said planetary gear drive being arranged for dipping into oil in said sump.

17. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, aplanetary gear drive arranged between said second coupling means and said warp beam for a positive connection of said second coupling means and said warp beam, and a casing said coupling means of said clutch and said planetary gear drive-being rotatably arranged within said casing, said casing having at least one sump capable of receiving oil, and said coupling means 18. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 5, said feeder drive including a pair of relatively shiftable gears meshing with each other, one of said gears being coupled with said first shiftable coupling means, the other gear being coupled with and driven by the main drive of the machine, a planetary gear drive arranged between said second coupling means and said warp beam for a positive connection of said second coupling means and said warp beam, and a casing, said gears of the feeder drive, said coupling means of the clutch and said planetary gear drive being arranged within said casing, said a casing having at least one sump capable .of re- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 511,598 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1939 

